The appeals court ordered a New Orleans judge to order a pre-sentence investigation, hold a new hearing and come up with a reduced sentence.

One of the judges noted that none of Johnson's three previous convictions for burglary, possession of heroin and distribution of cocaine were for violent crimes.

"We cannot condone a sentence which condemns Mr. Johnson to a life and inevitable death within prison walls, in light of his non-violent criminal history and the extraordinarily minor crime in this case."

2. For what crime did Louisiana DA Leon Cannizzaro seek and obtain a life without parole sentence against a man? Total insanity. pic.twitter.com/9IDuHzZRFH